The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-03-18

mFH' 11AfrlS IelG ike SlGUlng down on
the shady doorstep as she turned to
60 in, but she knew she could not.
The baby had tired itself out crying,
and was just lying sobbing in the
cradle. The dinner-table was just as
they left it, and that must be done be-
fore supper. She gave a glance to-
wards the green trees and white tomb
stones of the graveyard close
by, and Suppressed quickly the
bitter sigh that aros at the
thoughts of three little graves over
there which held her sacred dust. She
long ago had seen it was better thus.
She sat down to sooth the sobbing
baby, and under his mothers gentle
touch he soon gave signs of a more
comfortable state. She was very
tired; she had done a hard days work
already, and was not half done.
Mr.. Harris had a quantity of hay
down, and kept himself and the boy
and two hired men busy. Of them
selves, there was only the father,
mother and two children, the oldest
and youngest of the five, Twelve
years it was since she had mar
ried ~good-natured, hard-work-
ing, ambitious Will Harris, whom
every one said would make money!"
and they said, also, that he had done
unusually we'll in securing Mollie San
dersfor his wife. How golden the COM
ing years looked to them thenl Mollie
was graceful, lively aud the prettiest
girl in the country, and everybody
knew she had taken the premium for
her butter, and was far-famed for her
bread-making. But it was "Mollie"
then, never MARY" and very few
knew her name was Mary Jane. 1t
was only in the last few years, since
she had been less sprightly and quick
of foot, that he had called her Mary,
and she knew how nearly impatient
he was when he called her Mary Jane,
She did not mean to worry him, but
she could not get around as she had
used to, while he improved in appear
n and capability every year. She
did not reason why it was, but she
felt the cause. "a continual dropping
will wear away d stone"
the striking of the clock. She laid the
baby, in ftfui, feverish siumber, in his
cradle, and FASTENED to the work.
When she had the dishes washed and
her hair combed, how much better she
should feel, she thought; but she must
iced the two hundred young chick
ems, ducks and turkeys before then, so
that it was after three when at last
the dishes were washed and in their
places. Bob had come up for q jug Of
water for the men. He was only elev-
en-, but he could work; his father had
seen to that. The sun was SO hot she
wondered how the men could stand
beneath the scorching heat; and then
the familiar sound of horses hoofs
warned her her husband had returned.
She stood still by the door till she
heard his voice speaking to thehorses,
and then Il. louder tone:
"Come out and get these things"
She went out with her faser on her
lips, trembling lest his voice had wax
ened the baby.
"Sun's awful hot" was his COM
ment, as he piled her arms full OF
packages.
wish you'd bring the swill pail as
you come back. Those hogs hayn't
had a blessed mouthful to drink, I'll
be bound, since morning"
She could have said that she had
watered them a time or two herself,
but said nothing. The large tobacco
pail was nearly full of swill, but she
carried it out, and used all her
strength to Lift it to his reach as he
sat there. He turned to speak as he
started off.
ri saw Johnson, and he wanted
butter, so / let him have it on the
account there. There wasn't any left
to get the calico, but / got it myself,
so try and not get anything more till
you have marketing enough to get, for
/ can't buy so much out of hand"
She watched him drive away, hold
ing the pail carefully poised over the
wagon-bed; but the next instant she
was in the house. There was cooking
to do for supper, and berries to pick;
and ii the bapy would only sleepl She
unrolled the calico. 1t needed only a
glance to tell her there was not enough,
and she saw the amount was sew
en- yards. She couldn't have her calico
dress after all, and her butter must go
or a bill for blacksmithlng, and she
must take a slur from one who should
have given her better, because it had
gone SO deep in pocket, the forty-two
cents which t'he had paid himself for
the calico. There had been over three
dollars worth OF butterl
She sighed and took up her burden
again. The baking was done when
the baby walked, and she thought he
seemed better. She sat him up in his
high chair by the window. The sky
was cloudy now; the men were hurry
ing back and forth in the bayfield,,
and Rob was riding the rake. She